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State softball: Oakfield rallies to top Assumption

By Mark Massoglia, Daily Tribune Media;
1:16 a.m. CDT June 14, 2014

Megan Buntrock throws the ball to first after a bunt by Oakfield. Oakfield beat Assumption 6-4 to advance to the Division 4 state championship at WIAA State Softball Tournament in Madison.
(Photo:
Joe Sienkiewicz / Oshkosh Northwestern Media
)

MADISON – In the back of her mind Wisconsin Rapids Assumption softball coach Mandy Turba was thinking the Royals’ state semifinal game might come down to the last inning or two.

Her premonition was right on, except for the outcome.

Oakfield scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to gain the advantage for good and post a 6-4 victory over Assumption in the first Division 4 semifinal game of the morning Friday at Goodman Diamond.

The win advanced the Oaks to their sixth championship appearance in program history.

Oakfield, which won back-to-back state titles in 2011 and 2012, takes on Cochrane-Fountain City, a 4-1 winner over Ithaca, at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Division 4 championship. Assumption, making its first state tournament appearance since 2006, finished with an 18-7 mark.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come down to a last at-bat, but it did,” Turba said. “It was an emotional game and the girls did a good job picking themselves up. They knew they could get runs off her (McKaela Ryan) when we needed to.”

The back and forth game had five lead changes, the last one going in favor of the Oaks.

Paige Petersen doubled with one out in the bottom of the sixth to drive in a pair of runs as Oakfield scored three times to take a 6-4 lead.

“I saw the pitch coming and knew I had to swing,” Petersen said. “They way it felt off the bat was just perfect. I knew I was hitting in the runs and my teammates were going to score.”

Ryan retired Assumption in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.

“It was an honor to get here, but it hurts right now,” Assumption senior Brittney Birkhauser said. “We should be proud of what we accomplished, and I couldn’t have asked for too much more, other than a different outcome.”

Assumption’s big inning, a two-run fourth, gave the Royals a 3-2 lead. A pair of freshmen came up big in the frame.

Birkhauser, who scored three times, reached on an error and was driven home by a stand-up triple by Kara Milkey. Two batters later, Taylor Nelson doubled to right field to score Milkey and give the Royals the lead.

The Royals scored one more time in the top of the sixth to regain the lead at 4-3 on a double to center field by Joelynn Frisch.

“Before the game all of our coaches told us that this was just another game on a different field,” Assumption pitcher Megan Buntrock said. “It didn’t really dawn on me that we were at state right away.

“It was an amazing experience. I’m not really sure how to describe it,” Buntrock added. “We had an amazing season. Our seniors were such good leaders. They knew what to say when we were down and always kept us up. We’re going to miss them.”